Piecing Together the Past

A Forensic Reconstruction of Mummified Remains from the Ptolemaic Period of Egypt

Asenior capstone research project that draws from multiple academic areas is the hallmark of an education grounded in the liberal arts. THERESA TAJNAI, who graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in May 2021 with a degree in anthropology, developed just such a project.

Prior to the pandemic, the Milwaukee County Historical Society acquired mummified remains from the Ptolemaic period. Thanks to relationships that Dr. Ned Farley, associate professor of anthropology, has built with local museums, the society contacted him to see if the college was interested in working with the remains, which the society could not use.

WLC acquired the pristine remains, and Theresa began working with them on campus in September 2020 as part of her bioarcheology capstone. She worked with Dr. James Henkel, associate professor of biology, to analyze the mortuary rituals used, then developed her own protocol for reversing the embalming process so she could isolate tissue samples and rehydrate them to put on slides. As she conducted her research, she worked with WLC professors from multiple academic areas including anatomy and physiology, biology, and anthropology. “I was blessed to have this multi-disciplinary research opportunity at the undergraduate level,” said Theresa, who plans to attend graduate school in bioarcheology.

Theresa focused first on learning what she could about the remains. Working with Dr. Farley, she had them put through a CT scan at the Medical College of Wisconsin, did a dental analysis, and had the tissue carbondated. She determined that the person was a female who died between the ages of 19 and 25, was of Nubian and Egyptian descent, and lived about 2,300 years ago.

Theresa then worked with Dr. Henkel to make a 3D print of the skull. From there she began a facial reconstruction project using clay, building up each layer of the head from the skull to the skin. Once the reconstruction is finished, she will make a silicone mold of it, then add periodappropriate makeup and jewelry.

Theresa’s takeaway from her research? “This project has given me a strong foundation to reach out to other cultures, and the skills I’ve gained as a Christian servant leader at WLC will let me make a difference in the world,” she concluded.